insect infestations in penitentiary establishments nos. 2, 8, 15, 16 and 17. During visits, the monitoring
group members saw cockroaches and bed bugs in psychologists’ offices, living cells and solitary
confinement cells. More than one prisoner showed insect bites to the group members. The following
were problematic in 2018: adequate ventilation,91 sufficient light92 and the minimum living space of 4
square metres as established by Article 15 of the Imprisonment Code for each convicted person.93
Besides, the Public Defender’s recommendation made in the 2017 parliamentary report concerning
ensuring accused persons with 4 square metres as the minimum living space has not been fulfilled.94
The old, so-called barrack type dormitories95 are still functioning in penitentiary establishment no. 17.
It is necessary to abolish them.
The problem of uninterrupted water supply remains unsolved in penitentiary establishment no. 3.
From midnight, 24:00, until 08:00 in the morning, the establishment is not provided with drinking
water from the city of Batumi.96 The water stored in the establishment’s reservoirs is exhausted within
a few hours after which the water supply to the cell units is cut off for 2-3 hours.
Under the European Prison Rules, clean drinking water shall be available to prisoners at all times.97 It
is important that the establishment should take all the necessary measures to ensure uninterrupted
supply of drinking water.
2.3.10. MEDICAL CARE
In terms of penitentiary health care, the following remain problematic: medical personnel’s staffing98
and qualification,99 maintaining medical documentation in an appropriate manner, respect for medical
confidentiality, timely medical referral and the overall situation in the system.
91
Penitentiary establishments nos. 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 17.
Penitentiary establishments nos. 3, 8 and 14.
93Penitentiary establishments nos. 2, 8, 12, 14, 15 and 17.
94 Stemming from the presumption of innocence, accused persons should not be in more restrictive conditions
compared to convicted persons.
95 In barrack type dormitories, smoking and non-smoking prisoners live in the same area; it is difficult to maintain
hygiene and the risk of spreading infectious diseases is high.
96 Similar to the district of Batumi where the establishment is located (Letter no. 001-219 of the LTD Batumi
92
Water, dated 15 April 2019).
97
Rule 22.5.
Report to the Government of Greece on the visit to Greece, carried out by the European Committee for the
Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 20 to 27 February 2007.
According to the CPT, staffing levels should be equivalent to roughly one medical doctor for 300 prisoners and
one qualified nurse for 50 prisoners. In large penitentiary establishments such as nos. 2, 14, 15 and 17, the ratio of
prisoners and nurses is high and therefore it is necessary to provide additional medical staff. See, the Public
Defender’s Special Report on the Effect of Imprisonment Condition on Prisoners’ Health, 2018, p. 32.
99 There are still problems in the field of continuous medical education. The training sessions conducted for
medical personnel are mostly about mental health, substance abuse and protection of rights. Training sessions on
98
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